Thursday, June 21, 2012

Nutrition 101: Part 3 - Carbohydrates

RARW - Evil pancake!

On one hand, we kinda-sorta get the whole “evil carbs” thing….but
on the other, more logically-sound hand, we think it is bonkers.

In case you were wondering, carbohydrates are one of the
main types of nutrients and one of the most important sources of energy for our
body. When we eat carbs, our digestive system changes them into glucose (sugar)
which our body then uses for energy for our cells, tissues, and organs.

Yeah Science!

Carbs are either simple or complex, based on their chemical
structure. Simple carbs are those sugars found naturally in foods such as
fruits, vegetables, milk, etc. They also include sugars added during food processing and refining (refined = BAD BAD BAD BAD
BAD!) Complex carbs include whole grain breads, starchy vegetables, etc., and
are often a great source of fiber (GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD!)

Best time to eat carbs: early in the day! This way, your body has all day long to utilize the
energy from the gluclose, and it doesn’t just sit in your body unused (aka
stored as fat).

Amount of carbs: We really feel this is individualistic. For example, Timothy
doesn’t require a lot of carbs and can still maintain appropriate levels of
energy and performance. Lindsay, on the other hand, can be noticeably sluggish
without appropriate amounts of complex carbs. Take the time to play with this a little bit....be aware of your body, note how you feel when you up or lower carb intake, and find what works for you!

To K.I.S.S. it: limit/avoid the refined simple carbs (pretty
much anything that comes in a box) and enjoy (in moderation) complex carbs,
trying to consume mostly earlier in your day!